Keith Downing plans West Brom changes despite Spurs point
Caretaker boss Keith Downing today warned Albion's White Hart Lane stars they face the chop at West Ham tomorrow despite winning an impressive point against Tottenham.
Downing plans to press ahead with his squad rotation plans at Upton Park despite seeing a Baggies side featuring seven changes claim a Boxing Day draw at Spurs.
Steven Reid, Craig Dawson, Diego Lugano, Claudio Yacob, Morgan Amalfitano, Zoltan Gera and Matej Vydra were all drafted in yesterday and helped hold Tim Sherwood's men.
But Gareth McAuley, Billy Jones, Youssouf Mulumbu, Chris Brunt, Stephane Sessegnon, Scott Sinclair, Saido Berahino and Nicholas Anelka were all left out with tomorrow in mind while Shane Long and Victor Anichebe could both return from injury.
And Downing said: "Playing again in less than 48 hours is ludicrous.
"TV take preference but I don't understand it.
"Asking players to play twice in less than 48 hours and provide quality and entertainment is wrong.
"That had some bearing on my team selection yesterday and we've got a 22-man squad of players staying down in London for three days and I'm sure the majority of them will be playing a part over the two games.
"Shane's got a slight calf problem.
"He had a tightening of the calf in training so we took him out of things but he's down here and we'll see how he goes for tomorrow."
Zoltan Gera made his first start in almost a year at Spurs yesterday and former an impressive attacking partnership with Matej Vydra, who started for the first time in the Premier League.
Downing said: "I thought Gera and Vydra were a constant thorn in their side.
"They were good on the counter-attack and Matej's a little bit disappointed he didn't take one of the chances he had.
"But he's looking like we know him from last year at Watford.
"He's now starting to get some confidence and belief in his own performance and I thought him and Gera were good.
"Zoltan's gone through a horrific time with his knees.
"He is a top person in terms of professionalism and being infectious around the place.
"It's great to have him back in the squad and he showed today what a quality player he is.
"For himself he had to get that game time to show he's back up to full speed."
